Electrically operable indicator for simulated dice games



March 11, 1952 FQRTNER 2,588,817

ELECTRICALLY OPERABLE INDICATOR FOR SIMULATED DICE GAMES Filed Sept. 4, 1947 Mann/e 5. F orfper ,By partially turning the Patented Mar. 11, 1952 ELECTRI'CALDY OPERABLE INDICATOR FOR SIMULATED DICE GAMES.

Mannie S. Fortner, Houston, Tex. Application September 4, 1947, Serial No. 772,056

3 Claims. (Cl. Leis-141) 1 This invention relates to a game playing device.=

An object oi the invention is to provide adevice of the character described which is electrically operable and which may be successively operated by the various players by means of electric switches controlled by the respective players and wherein the field is provided with transparent windows or openings formed to simulate playing pieces, such as dice with means for indicating the completed play through the instrumentality of a rotatable member which will cast a colored light on the playing pieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gaming device of the character described -wherein a-casing is provided to completely enclose theoperating mechanism and the electric wiring by means of which the device is operated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View showing the playing field partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, bottom side view of the playing field, and

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates a suitable base board which, in the present illustration is shown as being of rectangular form.

Secured to and upstanding from the base board I there is a circular wall 2 forming a casing.

In the present illustration there is shown a circular plate 3 which may be detachably secured to the wall 2, and which forms the field board.

In the present illustration the bottom side of the plate is provided with flexible clips 4 which may be engaged underneath oppositely disposed lugs 5 which extend inwardly from the upper margin of the wall 2, as illustrated in Figure 3.

plate 3 the clips 4 may bedisengaged from the lugs 5 so that the plate, or field board, 3 may be removed.

The plate, or field board, 3 has the marginal rows of circular perforations '6 therearound and in these perforations there are secured playing pieces, as 1, which are of transparent material and which have indicating marks thereon.

In the present illustration these transparent pieces 1 are marked to simulate dice.

Secured to the base board I, preferably at the whose outer end is tricalwall socket.

paren't'and which pass directly-underneath the playing pieces 7 as the bar 9 rotates'so as to cast a. colored light through the pieces.v directly over said plates 10.

Underneath the plates I0 there is. a circular neon tube ll whichoonstantly illuminates the playing pieces. I

The numeral 12 designates an electric cordprovided with the contact.

tongues l3, I3 which may be inserted in an elec- The numerals l4 designate switches, four being shown and. which are normally open but whichmay be closed, temporarily, to-complete an electrical circuit to the motor. The electrical conductors leading through the cord directly to the motor are indicated by the numerals l5, l5a, and the conductors leading on through the switches and to the motor are indicated by the numerals l6, I1, I 8 and I9 sqthat when either switch is closed the motor switch is pressed to close it the switch will automatically open.

The neon tube II is constantly illuminated being wired into the main circuit l 5, lfi injany approved manner, as indicated in Figure'il'. I

When a play is to be made the switch M, of a player, will be closed to cause the bar 9 to spin but upon closing will be immediately opened. The playing pieces under which the plates I0 stop will be illuminated with a colored light and the play will thus be indicated.

It is therefore essential that the plates 10 stop directly underneath oppositely disposed-playing pieces and in order to eifect this the underside of the field board 3 is provided with a circular row of metal pieces 20 capable of magnetic attraction such as ordinary tracks which may be driven therein and which are radially, aligned with the corresponding playing pieces 1 and each end of the bar 9 carries a magnet 2| and, in playing, should the bar 9 stop, after the switch has been opened, between the playing pieces and not directly in alignment with them the magnets will move on by magnetic attraction into alignment with transversely aligned pieces 20 thus moving said bar on until the plates Ill are aligned with oppositely disposed playing pieces so that the re sult of the play can be ascertained with certainty.

willieperata; When a upon releasegthereof V As hereinabove stated the neon tube H may be lighted in any approved manner. As illustrated, however, there is a transformer 22 within the casing 2 and which is connected in circuit with the conductors 15, 15a by means of the wiring 23 and from the transformer the electricity is supplied to the neon tube through the conductors 24, 24.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A game playing device comprising, a casing, a field board forming a top for the casing, transparent playing pieces arranged in circular relation in said field board, each of said pieces being disposed diametrically opposite another of the pieces, a, continuous source of light in the casing underneath the playing pieces, an electric motor in the casing having a vertical shaft, a transverse baron the shaft, plates of transparent, colored, material disposed in diametrically aligned relation on the bar which revolve, with the bar, between the source of light and the playing pieces, a plurality of manually operable switches wired in circuit with the motor any of which may be closed to effect operation of the motor and rotation of the bar and magnetic means on the bar and board, positioned to cause the bar to come to rest with the plates beneath opposite playin pieces. I

2. A game playing device comprising, a casing, a field board forming a top for the casing, transparent playing pieces arranged in circular relation in said field board, a source of light in the casing arranged directly underneath all of the playing pieces, a rotatable bar in the casing, a plate of transparent, colored, material on each end of the bar which revolve, with the bar, between the source of light and the playin pieces,

manually controlled means for intermittently rotating the bar, magnets on the ends of the bar and a circular row of metal pieces capable of magnetic attraction on the underside of the field board in radial alignment with the respective playing pieces which co-act with the magnets to precisely align said plates with the corresponding playing pieces when the bar is at rest.

3, A game playing device comprising, an enclosing casing, a field board forming a top for the casing, transparent playing pieces arranged in circular relation in the field board, a. continuous, circular source of light in the casing directly underneath all of the playing pieces, a rotatable bar in the casing, plates of transparent, colored, material, on the bar which revolve, with the bar, between the source of light and the playing pieces, independent means which are manually operable for rotating the bar at will, a magnet on the bar and a circular row of metal pieces capable of magnetic attraction on the field board in radial alignment with the respective playing pieces which co-act with the magnet to align said plates with the corresponding playing pieces when the bar is at rest.

MANNIE S. FORTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Thomas Jan. 18, 1938 

